Judges 11:29-39 / Matthew 22:1-14
The character of Jephthah whom we heard in the 1st reading was an interesting and colourful character.
Jephthah was an outcast - he was the son of a prostitute.
People couldn't take his crass n brash ways - they scorned him and rejected him.
Eventually, he went off into the hills and became an outlaw and the leader of a gang of bandits.
Yet it was upon Jephthah that the Spirit of the Lord descended to empower him to free his people from their enemies.
Though the character and morality of Jephthah was questionable, yet he was a man of his word.
What he promised the Lord, he did indeed fulfilled, even though he never thought or intended that his only child, his daughter would be the cost of the sacrifice.
Although his heart was broken over his daughter, he didn't bargain with the Lord over his promise.
This should make us reflect about our baptismal promises to the Lord, that we renounce all evil and be faithful to the Lord.
But more importantly we should remember what the Lord has promised us!
God promised that He would save us and He even invited us to the wedding banquet in heaven.
God fulfilled that promise by letting His only Son be sacrificed on the cross.
The least we could do is to humbly say this: O Lord, You have given me so much. In Your love and mercy, grant me one more thing - grant me a grateful and a thankful heart.